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Calypso Chapter
Calypso Chapter serves Southwest Montana including the greater Dillon - Butte - Deerlodge areas. For more information, contact:
P.O. Box 320046
Glen MT 59732
(406) 498-6198
or
Sheila Thompson
909 Kohrs
Deer Lodge MT 59722
(406) 846-1855
Activities and Trips:
Saturday, 4/6, 10 am-2 pm. Sixth Annual Gardening with Natives Workshop. Presentations by Kathy Settevendemie, “Reclaiming a weed patch with natives;” David Schmetterling, “Insects and pollinators in the native garden;” and Ann Eagan, “Learning to prune native shrubs and trees.” Held in Divide, MT. Free; bring lunch. Info and to register: Catherine Cain at 498-6198, nativeplants@montana.com.
May, date and time TBA. Ethnobotany of Scotland. Presented by Linda Lyon; held in Dillon. Info: Linda at 683-7075, l_lyon@umwestern.edu.
Wednesday, 6/19, 7:00 pm. Penstemons: Prepare for the July Lemhi Pass Bio-Blitz. Bob Wooley will teach how to identify the numerous penstemons in southwest Montana in preparation for the botany blitz next month. UM-Western, Block Hall, Rm. 311. Info: Bob at 683-6365, bbwool@bmi.net.
Sunday, 6/23, 10 am. The Calypso Chapter is partnering with USFS-Dillon for a daylong field extravaganza from Quartz Hill through Vipond Park, down to the Charcoal Kilns on Canyon Creek and out to Melrose. This is one of the most beautiful high-altitude places in SW Montana accessible by regular passenger vehicles. We will probably want to carpool if there are many participants because turnouts are scarce. Meet at the Quartz Hill turnoff from Hwy 43. Bring a lunch and be prepared for inclement weather. Info and to register: Catherine at 498-6198, nativeplants@montana.com.
Saturday, 7/6. Landscaping with Natives: See What’s Being Done in Butte! Info: Kriss at 782-9060, samjd@montana.com
Friday-Saturday, 7/19-20. Botany Blitz: Penstemons of Lemhi Pass. The Calypso Chapter and the USFS-Dillon are coordinating this fun two-day event. Meet at the USFS office in Dillon. Info: Jessie Salix, USFS, at 683-3900, jsalix@fs.fed.us.
Information on scenic/botanically interesting drives in Southwest Montana...
Vipond Park Driving Loop
Click here for the Vipond Park plant list.
There are several special interest and plant areas on this loop. One can approach Vipond Park from the north turning at the Wise River exit and turning south on the Quartz Hill road just past Dewey. From the south, one can go to Melrose, across the tracks and river and head up Trapper Creek road. Going from this approach, one will first pass the old town of Glendale. Not much is left. The next stop is the charcoal kilns, which are being restored. Next, head up the switchbacks to Vipond Park. Look for Penstemon lemhiensis on the road cuts on the switchbacks. There is a good viewpoint to the top of the switchback to observe the glacial terrain of Canyon Creek.
Once on top, you are in Vipond Park. Pending times, one can observe fields of camas, Camassia quamash, along with numerous wet forbs; Claytonia lanceolata, Pedicularis groenlandica and more.
Coming down from Vipond Park, look for pygmy bitterroots and fields of pasque flowers. There are abundant Calypso orchids blooming about 3.4 miles from the end of Quartz Hill road. Coming from the top, start looking in the Douglas fir zone, just after the subalpine fir zone. Look off the road by the rotten logs. They are in clumps of 30 to +40 plants. Mid to late June is ideal.
In lower elevations there is plenty to see; townsendia, bluebells, penstemons, phlox, erigerons, senecios and more. Glacier lilies are the early bloomers.
Flora changes from week to week. For the best road information, obtain a Forest Service travel plan and contact the Dillon Ranger Office at 683-3900 or the Wise River Ranger Office at 832-3178.
Gravelly Mountain Tour
Click here for the Gravelly Mountain Tour plant list.
This area is south of Ennis. Several loops can be made to access the subalpine meadows. High elevations and open meadows dominate the area. July through August are the best flora viewing months. Fields of Polygonum bistortoides, Hymenoxys grandiflora and Wyethia are abundant. A plant list is available. Rare pink Agoseris lackschewitzii and Thalictrum alpinum can be found. In early to mid July, the Forest Service leads a public tour of the area. To obtain a Forest map and more information contact the Madison Ranger District Office at 406-682-4253.